Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgard, Naomie Harris

Directed by: Gore Verbinski

RS: 2of 4 Stars Average User Rating: 3of 4 Stars

2007 Buena Vista Action

The good news first: Keith Richards totally rocks it playing pirate daddy to Johnny Depp's Capt. Jack Sparrow. The deep rumble of his voice and those hooded eyes that narrowly open like the creaky gates of hell make him what the rest of this three-peat is not: authentically scary. It's fun to see Richards swagger, even sitting down. Watch him stage a macabre reunion for Jack and his dear old mum. Don't worry, I won't reveal her secret.

So what's the bad news? Richards is onscreen for barely two minutes. The rest of At World's End left me at wit's end wading through nearly three hours of punishing exposition, endless blather (pirates take meetings -- who knew?), an overload of digital effects and shameless setups for Pirates 4. I ask you people: Even if you like Depp (and who doesn't?), do you understand one bloody thing that's going on in this Pirates trilogy? The problem, I think, is that director Gore Verbinski and screenwriters Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio focus on Will Turner, played by the aggressively bland Orlando Bloom, and his quest to find a personality. Kidding. Will wants to rescue his father (Stellan Skarsgard) from the tentacles of Davy Jones, a talking CGI fish with the luck to be voiced by the great Bill Nighy. Will still can't find the balls to make a move on Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley, working her skinny butt off trying to get a rise out of this putz), who spends her time trying to get Chow Yun-Fat, as the pirate lord of Singapore, to help save Jack. Confused? You should be, since Jack (why doesn't someone just tell him he's gay?) was swallowed whole by the Kraken in Pirates 2, but he steps lively here. He's trapped in Davy Jones' Locker, which resembles a hallucination out of Being John Malkovich, with multiple Jacks jabbering at each other.

I applaud the Oscar nomination Depp received for the first Pirates, but the third chapter proves that there can indeed be too much of a good thing. Pirates 3 raises everything from the dead, except inspiration. A huge set piece in which a pirate ship pulls a Poseidon and turns upside down must have cost millions and still looks tacky. And until a wow of a climactic sea battle, the story plods along like a PBS special on the founding pirate fathers. Happily, Geoffrey Rush (absent from Pirates 2) encores his "arrghs" as Barbossa and shows how nostril-flaring acting should be done. This dude can steal scenes from a monkey, and does. At least Rush and Depp capture the pirate ethos that a lost boy can get older but stay immature forever. I haven't mentioned the heart cut out of Davy's chest. No reason. I just don't care. Being buried in an avalanche of cliches and incoherence will do that to a guy. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer does deserve a shoutout: It takes a kind of genius to sucker audiences into repeatedly buying the same party tricks. Know what? There really is no legit way to review Pirates 3. It's not a movie at all, it's a business proposition.

PETER TRAVERS

(Posted: May 22, 2007)

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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Review 1 of 30

2of 4 Stars

You can take great ingrediants and still make a lousy stew.... I agree that when dead eyed Kieth comes on an you feel for an instant a whiff of the real. So much so that the rest of the movie's sad parlor shtick and special effects pig pile seems like nothing more an attempt to cover up an empty shell of a movie.
Do we feel any thing about any of these cartoons before every seen is interupted by a boom, a bang and a big flash? Glad I waited for cable...but even $3.99 was too much to pay for this glittering trash heap. They owe me for the time I spent watching it.

Dec 25, 2007 16:56:46

Review 2 of 30

4of 4 Stars

my favourite film ever!!! people take the film to seriously what makes the film what it is, is the chaos of it all, you dont have to know whats goin on all the time because when really in life do you know whats going on all the time! johnny depp is in my opinion one of the greatest and most versitile actors ever i mean compare jack sparrow and willy wonker or icabot crane even edward sissor hands!and people sayin that they are becoming bored of jack sparrow and there can be to much of a good thing are in the minority to the people that think he is amazing. and depp is just giving his fans what they want! yet orlando bloom is a johnny depp wannabe but will never live up to the legend that is depp, keira knightly is good but again nothing in comparison !!!!!!!!!!

Aug 22, 2007 09:31:46

Review 3 of 30

4of 4 Stars

I truly believe that many critics are looking way to far into this. How can you watch Pirates 3 and not think it's a great movie?? Hard to follow?? No...I think what writers did is not "dummy" up the story. Johnny Depp is honestly one the best actors of all time and deserves way more regonition than he receives. I love how the writers, priducers, directors etc...kept it interersting!! Will there be a 4?? They kept you wondering..and that's what I like. Yes, they did focus a lot on Will Turner quite a bit. But if pay attention, you realize that everybody in this moviw comes to a conclusion, but they also left it open for a 4th...5th etc. I think critics are blind to see what is a great movie. The effects and the acting in this movie are brilliant. Sorry, but if you don't like this movie...you aren't a true movie lover.

Jul 12, 2007 12:40:51

Review 4 of 30

3of 4 Stars

The latest episode continues the entertaining demeanor of the franchise. Lots of great action sequences and special effects. The plot certainly thickens and challenges the audience to keep up with the story line. There are some memorable scenes, I especially liked Depp's act in pirate purgatory where he sort of reprises his role in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". The movie also takes a darker turn, characters actually get killed (I don't remember anybody actually dying in the previous ones) and the plot takes on an unexpected emotional twist that lays the foundation for future sequels. Can't wait for the next installment.

Jun 21, 2007 11:43:55

Review 5 of 30

4of 4 Stars

I think it is too bad you felt the need to see this wonderful movie as a business. The music alone is great. The scenery the shots are beautiful the dialogue is meaningful and well done. And then there is Captain Jack and that is without a single drop of rum. To me this trilogy will become a family favorite for young and old. As you can tell I love the whole trilogy but this one is my favorite. It is such great fun I am sorry you missed it.

Jun 15, 2007 14:51:52

Review 6 of 30

4of 4 Stars

I suggest watching film carefully then
eveything will be clear. It is a very good
film. It's long but definitely not boring. The
scene where Black Pearl turns upside down is
worth every penny and the music that can be
heard during this scene is amazing. Every
battle is very spectacular and interesting.
Even if Richards is onscreen for only two
minutes it's enough, there's no need to develop
this thread. He has his job to do and that's
all. The duel between Jack and David Jones
during the sea battle is breathtaking. I think
it's the best duel from all the movies. Johnny
is great as always and Geoffrey Rush is
fantastic too. The only thing I don't like is
the scene at the ending, with Will and
Elizabeth, before credits and the one after
credits. There are so many Sparrabeth fans that
I'm sure they are very disappointed. They
should have been left with hope.

Jun 15, 2007 05:43:12

Review 7 of 30

3of 4 Stars

Please tell me there won't be a fourth! That's not to say that POTC 3 was horrid or anything- rather the opposite. There was a bit too much going on- but it wasn't nearly as confusing as Spiderman 3, and Keith Richards' cameo was pretty fantastic. I'd say it's definitely worth seeing, even if it's not quite everything it was cracked up to be.

Jun 13, 2007 17:31:04

Review 8 of 30

4of 4 Stars

I love it!! seen it several times. I didn't like the ending hanging like it did...wanted to know what becomes of will and elizabeth, also what becomes of davey jones and calypso. Sure hope there is at least a pirates # 4

Jun 10, 2007 22:43:12

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